World War II Honoree

Ernest H. Delaney

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Flora, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON JULY 10, 1942 AT FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS. COMPLETED INFANTRY BASIC TRAINING AND QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF RIFLEMAN (745) AND LATER HEAVY MACHINE GUNNER (605). ASSIGNED TO AND FOUGHT WITH COMPANY D, 17TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 7TH INFANTRY DIVISION, IN THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, LEYTE, EASTERN MANDATES, AND RYUKYUS CAMPAIGNS. UNIT MEMBERS EARNED THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH FOUR BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THREE BRONZE ARROWHEADS (ASSAULT LANDINGS), WWII VICTORY MEDAL, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH ONE BRONZE BATTLE STAR AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ON SEPTEMBER 25, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, FORT CHAFFEE, ARKANSAS.